Under pressure, CF Montreal succeeded in part of its mandate on Wednesday. By repeating the feat on Saturday evening, he could achieve his main objective.
At the heart of a hot fight for the Eastern Association series, the Bleu-blanc-noir did not have much room for maneuver when he showed up at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In a venue where they had never won before, Montreal beat Atlanta United 2-1 to place themselves in a much more comfortable position.
Now installed in eighth place, three points ahead of three pursuers, Laurent Courtois’ squad is breathing a little easier, but they know the stakes very well.
“We know that if we want to perform well, there are things we must accomplish ourselves. It requires being very precise technically and being tactically coordinated. I don’t know if our position changes much, other than the fact that we are not in any hurry to force things. Despite everything, if we do not put the basic ingredients for our success, we will also be in difficulty,” Courtois said on Friday, before training in Atlanta.
It is this urgency which perhaps came to the end of the club in 2023.
At this time last year, CF Montreal was trying to hang on to its place above the red line and it had its destiny in its hands. Despite a convincing home victory, a defeat in Columbus in the last game of the season, combined with an unfavorable result in New Jersey, excluded them from the playoffs.
This time, the players seem determined to keep their foot on the accelerator and maintain a high level for the last two parts of the season.
“We cannot be complacent or arrogant about our rank. We must approach every match with the right mentality and a high level of concentration. We know that we are a good team and that we can compete against anyone,” insisted defender George Campbell.
“In this league, everything can change in one match,” warned goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. I want us to arrive in Charlotte with the possibility of going for seventh place in the season finale. »
An “aggressive” match against Charlotte
CF Montreal (10-12-10) could secure a playoff spot in four ways on Saturday night, but they all start with at least one point against Charlotte FC (12-11-9).
The Bleu-blanc-noir are far from being an MLS power on the road this season, but they have history in their favor against the North Carolina team. He has still not lost in five games against Charlotte FC (4-0-1) and he is undefeated in two outings at Bank of America Stadium (1-0-1).
When the two Eastern rivals crossed swords at Saputo Stadium on September 14, Courtois’ men triumphed 2-1. With a victory on Saturday night, they would move to within two points of Charlotte FC and seventh place, but they expect a very different clash.
“I think it will be a more aggressive match than the one we experienced at home. At home, I think we were really in control. On Saturday, they risk having the ball a little more and they will want to attack us. I think there will be a little more pressure towards them because if we win, we will only be two points behind them in the standings,” Sirois noted.
Inspired soccer
If Montreal can even afford to think about the seventh echelon, it is thanks to an excellent streak of five games without a loss (4-0-1) which came out of nowhere.
Near the slums of the East a month ago, the Bleu-blanc-noir suddenly started playing inspired soccer. Montreal’s offense scored 11 goals during its winning streak, but the defense also tightened up, allowing only four goals.
The trigger comes at the right time for a defense which still displays the fourth worst performance in MLS this season.
“There is more concentration and synchronism. We see a lot of solidarity and our positioning in the penalty area is better. Everyone raised their level of play, observed Courtois. Collectively, and with the attacking trio, there is tactical and physical work that favors and helps the defense. »
“There are a multitude of factors to explain this. There is our mentality, our consistency and our confidence, added Sirois. There are details that go unnoticed, but which make the difference. We have been very clean defensively in the last few games. »
The head coach confirmed that midfielder Victor Wanyama would not be in Charlotte for Saturday’s duel, but that all other players would be present.